Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia flee camps citing dire conditions
May 4, 2024 (GEDAREF) – Thousands of Sudanese refugees have fled camps run by the United Nations in Ethiopia in northern Ethiopia, protesting a lack of security, severe food shortages, and inadequate medical care.
Since fighting erupted in Sudan between the army and Rapid Support Forces in April 2023, Ethiopians have hosted refugees in camps located in the Amhara and Benishangul-Gumuz regions, bordering Sudan’s Gedaref and Blue Nile states. These include reception centres, transit camps, and permanent settlements.
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) estimates 27,000 Sudanese refugees in Amhara and 20,000 in Benishangul-Gumuz.
Osman Abdel Bari, a refugee from Khartoum State, spoke to Sudan Tribune about the exodus from Olala camp in Amhara. “Over 3,000 refugees left due to a horrific decline in services, particularly healthcare. Food and medicine are scarce, and there’s no security,” he said.
Reports indicate that from December to January, at least four girls were raped by armed Ethiopian groups. Additionally, there have been incidents of targeted violence, armed robberies, and kidnappings for ransom, with little protection offered by Ethiopian authorities or the UNHCR.
Abdel Bari described severe food shortages, with aid deliveries halted for eight months before resuming last March. However, these supplies were insufficient, lasting barely three days. This lack of food has led to malnutrition among children, pregnant women, and the elderly. Environmental degradation and waste accumulation have also caused outbreaks of diarrheal diseases and skin infections.
These dire conditions have driven many refugees to leave the camps, venturing into the unknown. Social media activists have shared disturbing footage of large groups walking towards the Sudanese border town of Gondar, highlighting their desperate situation.
Meanwhile, in the Comer camp near the Ethiopian town of Matama, refugees staged a sit-in demanding food, water, and security from the UNHCR after a series of armed looting incidents.
Another refugee, speaking anonymously to Sudan Tribune, explained their decision to stage a sit-in. They demanded intervention from international organizations to address their problems, including potential resettlement in a different host country besides Ethiopia.
Mustafa Omer, another refugee in Gondar, Ethiopia, urged the international community to address the dire humanitarian crisis caused by the Sudanese war. He emphasized the plight of thousands forced to flee their homes. Speaking to Sudan Tribune, Omer accused international organizations and the Ethiopian government of neglecting refugees’ demands, presented since their arrival in May 2023.
He described receiving minimal aid – just a one-time handout of ten dollars – nearly a year after arriving at the camp. Security threats plagued the camp, with even the medical unit not spared. Residents also faced severe food shortages and extreme difficulty accessing clean drinking water.
Similar Plights in Karmuk Camp
Conditions in Karmuk camp, located in the Ethiopian “Benishangul-Gumuz” region and housing roughly 15,000 refugees, mirrored those in Amhara camps. Food, clean water, and shelter were all in short supply.
Al-Hadi Omer, a refugee in Karmuk, told Sudan Tribune that many refugees haven’t received any humanitarian aid from the UNHCR or other organizations since arriving at the camp. This lack of assistance has worsened their already dire situation.
He alleged corruption among some aid workers, claiming unequal distribution of supplies. “There’s clear discrimination among refugees,” Omer said. “UNHCR staff differentiate between camp residents and a large number of Sudanese who are being ignored and whose needs remain unmet. This has driven some back to Sudan.”
Further complicating matters, Omer explained that the Ethiopian federal police restrict refugees from taking on informal jobs to support their families. Additionally, rumours suggest the Ethiopian authorities plan to dismantle the camp and relocate refugees to an unknown destination.